Comelec logs highest-ever midterm polls voter turnout

The total number of votes cast in the midterm polls is at 81.65 percent, the highest in the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) history. FILE PHOTO BY MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The total number of votes cast in the midterm polls is at 81.65 percent, the highest in the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) history.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Thursday that this percentage is among the 68 million registered voters for this year’s polls.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Thursday that this percentage represents 55,874,700 out of the 68,431,965 registered voters for this year’s polls.

“We are happy because, despite it being a midterm election, the voters still cast their ballots—this is the highest [voter turnout] in a midterm election,” Garcia said in a press conference in Manila Hotel Tent City.

In the last 2019 midterm elections, the Comelec recorded around 75 percent voter turnout.

READ: In historic speed, Comelec to finish official tally in 3 days

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the 81.65 percent projection is an initial unofficial estimate and is still subject to finalization based on the completion of canvass by the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC).

The NBOC is poised to finish on Thursday the tally of all 175 certificates of canvass, which contains information like the number of voters and the official votes for a candidate.

READ: In historic speed, Comelec to finish official tally in 3 days

Garcia attributed the increase to the surge of youth voters, just like in the 2022 elections.

The Comelec chief also noted that this turnout is just a few percentage behind the 2022 presidential polls, which saw a 84.2 percent voter turnout, representing 55,431,939 out of 65,831,806 registered voters that time./coa /jpv